Objective: To evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after twelve months of smoking cessation. Methods: This was a prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program on the quality of life of 60 self-referred subjects, at a public hospital, during the period of August 2006 to December 2007. The program consisted of 2-h group sessions once a week during the first month and then every 15 days over six months, followed by monthly phone contacts for another six months. The treatment was based on behavior modification and the use of bupropion in combination with nicotinic replacement therapy. Abstinence was verified by exhaled CO measurements. Patient HRQoL was quantified using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item ShortForm Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Differences in quality of life scores between quitters and non-quitters at twelve months after the initial intervention were evaluated using analysis of covariance with baseline characteristics as covariates. Results: Self-reported quality of life scores were significantly higher among the 40 quitters than among the 20 non-quitters. The following SF-36 domains were most affected: role-emotional (p = 0.008); general health (p = 0.006); vitality (p < 0.001); and mental health (p = 0.002). At twelve months after the smoking cessation intervention, the SF-36 mental component and physical component summary scores were higher among quitters than among non-quitters (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings illustrate that smoking abstinence is related to better HRQoL, especially in aspects of mental health.Keywords: Quality of life; Smoking cessation; Questionnaires. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar alterações na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) doze meses após a cessação tabágica. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo para avaliar a efetividade de um programa de tratamento de fumantes, em relação à qualidade de vida, com 60 pacientes atendidos em um hospital público no período de agosto de 2006 a dezembro de 2007. O programa consistiu de sessões em grupo semanais com 2 h de duração durante o primeiro mês e quinzenais até o sexto mês, seguidas por telefonema mensal durante mais seis meses. O tratamento foi baseado na mudança comportamental e no uso de bupropiona associada à terapia de reposição nicotínica. A abstinência foi aferida pela medida de CO exalado. A QVRS dos pacientes foi quantificada através do questionário Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey . Diferenças nos escores de qualidade de vida entre ex-fumantes e fumantes ativos doze meses após a intervenção inicial foram analisadas utilizando-se a análise de covariância com as características basais como covariáveis. Resultados: Os escores de qualidade de vida autorrelatados foram significativamente maiores nos 40 ex-fumantes do que nos 20 fumantes ativos. Os seguintes domínios do SF-36 foram mais afetados: papel emocional (p = 0,008); saúde geral (p = 0,006); vitalidade (p < 0,001) e saúde mental (p = 0,002). Doze meses...

Objective: To evaluate patient profiles and factors associated with successful treatment. Methods: A retrospective study of patients enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Hospital de Messejana, located in the state of Ceará, Brazil, from October of 2002 to April of 2005. The treatment was evaluated based on patient profile, type of medication prescribed and time on that medication. Results: Of the 320 patients enrolled, 65.5% were women. The mean age at the outset of treatment was 48 years, and the mean duration of the smoking habit was 33 years. More than 90% of the patients had started smoking before the age of 20. Of the 258 individuals who had enrolled in the program at least one year prior, 50.8% had achieved treatment success; 17.8% had relapsed, and 31.4% had not quit smoking. On average, partial success was achieved in the fifth week of the treatment, and relapse occurred predominantly in the fourth month. Approximately 60% of the patients were treated with medication. Conclusion: Quitting smoking was significantly associated with the use of medication, regardless of the profile of the smoker evaluated. In the second year of the program, quitting smoking was more strongly associated with the use of bupropion and nicotine replacement, resulting in a higher success rate and a trend toward a reduction in the relapse rate. INTRODUCTIONThe life expectancy of smokers is eight years shorter than that of nonsmokers. Smoking cessation, however, significantly reduces the mortality rate, as well as producing a number of health benefits, of those under 35 years of age, and, to a lesser degree, of those over 65 years of age, representing a cost-effective intervention.(1-2) Nevertheless, quitting smoking, in most cases, is not a simple and abrupt decision.In 1992, the World Health Organization classified smoking as a mental and behavioral disorder, thereby revolutionizing the understanding of and approach to smokers, who were then no longer considered 'addicts'. The treatment began to include psychological and pharmacological aspects aimed at achieving and maintaining abstinence. The current treatment for smokers is distinct in that it combines the cognitive-behavioral approach with the use of anti-depressants, with or without nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).(1-2) Drug treatment has been shown to efficient and is well tolerated by patients.(3-4) The results obtained with NRT are similar, regardless of the delivery system employed: patches, nasal sprays, sublingual tablets or gum.(5) The chance of quitting smoking is doubled when bupropion is used and is even higher when bupropion is combined with NRT. (6) This treatment plan was followed at the Outpatient Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Messejana Hospital and was modified over the course of the thirty-month program, based on the feedback received from the groups treated, with the purpose of raising the abstinence rate and avoiding relapse.The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of patients seeking outpatient care in order to quit...

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